Amanda Provan was kind enough to join the show, and we explore her passion for the game. She began playing at 12, but had loved it since her youth. The path of life was such that she found blind hockey after a few years playing sighted, and we talk on what the transition was like. She quickly found herself engrossed with the community of Blind Hockey in Canada, and is the first woman to win gold with the Canadian National team. Enjoy her tales! beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Kenny Simmons was the third live guest of Never Far from Home. We sat down at West End Sports Grill, and had a great chat about his timeline within the game of hockey, and just how it was a Michigan boy ended up in Steamboat Springs. I had multiple friends and family members reach out with questions before the show, and we get to those as well. Enjoy a fun chat with a good hockey guy. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Tristan Lindberg comes on the show, and we explore a timeline that includes sighted hockey for a large chunk of time, including some time in juniors. Then, as things declined visually, he found himself back in the game with Canadian Blind Hockey. Enjoy the many tales Tristan shares, as we navigate rink stories, difficulties he has overcome, and of course, there is some off-ice exploration as well! beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Salmaan Chaudhri joined the podcast, and we were able to get into some of his timeline connected to the rink. We talk about one of my favorite things, community, and how the community of blind hockey has grown over the last few years. Salmaan shares his connection to the game, and within the exploration, we also find some good stories. Enjoy another wonderful guest! beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Lee Becker and I have been pining to get together on a podcast for a while, and his stories do not disappoint. We explore a timeline that includes growing up in a hockey-rich household, finding a passion in the games nuances, regarding equipment, and eventually traveling overseas and finding the game in a whole new way. Lee has some incredible tales that we move through, but even more that will be shared when we connect for the second of this two-part story. Enjoy! beautyunis.com ...

Ryan Kucy and I dive into his hockey timelines, highlighted by his first few times skating, and eventually, finding blind hockey a little later in his teen years. After finding his community, the experiences he has had have been mostly wonderful. As you may have come to expect, we explore family, passion for a sport, and the ever important: community. Enjoy some wonderful tales from my friend, Ryan. beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Hannah Croonquist and I met up at the Howie Dome, and she regaled me with stories about falling in love with the game. Originally from Minnesota, she wasted little time in becoming involved with the community of the rink, and even now as a young adult, she realizes the special connections it has given her. We walk through her youth hockey, her family, and where she landed for college. And of course, we find out how she ended up in Colorado. Enjoy. beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Missy Segall came on the show and we wasted little time diving into the stories and timeline! Missy grew up just outside of Boston, and she fell in love with hockey at a young age. We explore how that love became a passion, and just how far the passion took her. While she is currently moving into a different role in life and hockey, this is another example of a wonderful person who will always stay connected to the game. beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Spencer Wayman was guest #2 live from West End Sports Grill! We had a great time going through his involvement within the game, from his youth days in Craig through his time in college where he had to make more of an effort to stay involved. We find the different reasons he continues to love the game, and what drives him to stay involved. Enjoy! beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Mike "Doc" Emrick was welcomed to the show, and shared some great stories. We had limited time, but made the most of it, exploring some of the roots of his love for the game, examining the different meanings of family, touching on the late Peter McNab, and of course we dove into the senses as well. Enjoy the chat with my friend, Doc. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Dave Paolillo joins the show and we were able to explore many stories within his great life. He spent some years in New York, where he learned to love the game of hockey, then went to Florida, and ended up in the Air Force. The path was not that linear, and we take a deep dive into some fantastic, and at times incredibly challenging, career path. Enjoy my friends tales. I sure did. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

McKenna Hulslander joined the show, and shared wonderful stories about growing up in Montana. She talks about some of the challenges faced being in such a hockey remote environment. There was plenty of growth on the long drives, and plenty of tales that came from her time away from family. It all led her to college, and eventually overseas where she is currently tending net, professionally. Enjoy her many stories. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Adrian Dater grew up in the Northeast, and found a draw to sports through his connection to some Boston TV. He was lucky enough to grow in the game with names like Orr. We explore his youth, college, and eventual move to Colorado. There, he happened into a decent time with an NHL franchise who moved to Denver in 96. We go into a lot of storytelling. Enjoy. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Brian Ripley was the first live show for Never Far from Home. We plan to have more in the future, and what those develop into may change, but it was a blast to host a small community event, and still tell some stories. Those included growing up in the Colorado Springs area, playing hockey through college, and finding coaching soon after. Enjoy the tales of a ranch hand. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Sydney Bierwirth had some awesome tales to share, from growing up in the Detroit area, and falling in love with the game at the height of the Avalanche-Red Wing rivalry, to playing hockey in Israel. And the journey between. Enjoy her many stories, including the times she faced falling back in love with the game. Sydney has had a fantastic timeline, so far, with so much yet to come! thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Dan Schramm and I sat down after a great lunch, and he shared many stories, from growing up in the Vail valley in a household already in love with hockey, to stepping away from the game for a piece of time, and finding it again with Blind Hockey. Inside of that, we also explore his passion for food, and we find a few rabbit trails that lead to good stories. Enjoy! thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Drew Garza was an interesting story to listen to. He was sighted, and played hockey through his college years, then stepped away from the game for some time. He lost his vision in his late twenties, and as fate would have it, that was one of the things that got him back into the rink. We explore his timeline, and get into details from his youth, through his current escapade as a member of the blind hockey team for USA. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Tristan Brooks was kind enough to join the show, and told some fantastic stories. We covered his youth, from Alabama to Oregon, to France. He shared tales of his childhood, and how he came to find the passion he still has for the game of hockey, eventually taking it to France’s highest level, playing professionally for multiple seasons. Enjoy a saga full of turns. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Adam Young joined the show and we were able to explore his love of the game. From being a fan and enjoying the game on multiple stops around the country, to finding it in a playing capacity a little later in life. We get into some fantastic stories about how he started in sighted hockey, and then came to find blind hockey, and has worked his way into a USA jersey. Enjoy Adam’s many tales! thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Jaclyn Hawkins kindly came on the podcast and shared some fantastic tales. From a big career and life moment when heading to the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), to coaching, to European Pro hockey. We cover a broad range of topics, all focused on who Jaclyn is, and what she stands for. That, of course, includes large amounts of discussion focused on Women’s Hockey Life, and looking at the women’s game as a whole. Enjoy! beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

There was a special event on Never Far from Home today: a round table discussion with the Dawg Nation: St. Louis boys. Jared Schmierbach and Matt Heath joined the show to talk about the founding of the St. Louis chapter of Dawg Nation. We interject a few stories along the way, but it was great to hear about an up and coming piece of GIVING BACK! Enjoy. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Justin Goldman did a fantastic job diving into stories as we explored his wild timeline, from a child playing hockey in Texas, through being an EBUG for the Colorado Avalanche. Enjoy the path that was not always straight for this goalie turned author. It was an absolute joy listening to the many varied tales he had to share. thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Declan Farmer joined the show and we get into his story. From finding the game of sled hockey around 8, all the way through his three gold medals to date with the U.S. at the Paralympic Games. His tale is a great one, filled with community, and finding a deeper and deeper love for the game. Enjoy! thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Sierra Natzke joined the podcast, and shared stories of falling in love with the game of hockey at a young age. She started in roller, and switched to ice. I tried my best to forgive her for being a goalie. We chatted about mental toughness, something she had to face multiple times through her career, which stemmed from youth hockey through college. Enjoy her tales, and my attempt to rekindle a passion that she has put aside for a small piece of time.   thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com

Kelly Cook joined the show as one of the first people to have known about the idea of Never Far from Home. While she only started playing in the last few years, there has been a deep connection to hockey through her family. We explore some of her earlier stories of being a Red Wings fan, and also talk briefly on her time as a soccer player, and a Scottish Dancer. Enjoy the tales!   thegardensicehouse.com beautyunis.com